WRECK OF A STEAMER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 23 December 1913, Page 5

WRECK OF A STEAMER.

STitUCK A SUNKEN ROCK.

"SWALLOWED BY'THE RAGING

SEA."

BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.

PEKING, Dec 22. The China Navigation • Company's steamer Takyui was wrecked on {Saturday. It is believed that over" 170 people, mostly coolies were drowned:

The vessel struck a sunken rock-off Reef Island late at night. Next morning a Japanese patrol boat and two tenders came to her" assistance, and/ found that the Takyui had a strong list. The passengers, chiefly coolies, had crowded to the'forepart, which tilted in. the air^ Owing to a heavy sea running, the boats were unable to give auy assistance. .

After banging on the rock till midday, the doomed vessel slipped into the sea and; disappeared. Six people were subsequently rescued, nearly dead from /.exposure, from the island.

The, master of the Takyui, Captain Thbfesen, states that after the vessel struck the engines were kept.going in order to, keep the vessel on the. rock. Orders were issued to launch the lifeboats, but crowds of panic-stricken coolies rushed the lifeboats, making it impossible to move them from their chocks. The Takyui continued to pound on the rock, until she filled with water. Then 6jie slipped into deep water. Many shrieking coolies were quickly swallowed by the raging sea. Thirty-six including the captain and another European,. managed to gain the island safely. The captain, the chief officer, the .quarter-master, and a steward made a raft. After drifting for hours they were driven ashore. They almost perished from exposure and hunger.